Circular court basketball game with ball ejector

ABSTRACT

A basketball game is played on a circular court outlined by concentric circles. A pole is removably mounted in an upright position at the center of the court. On top of the pole is a horizontal hoop supported by removable bracket arms carried by the pole. A tapered net basket with a closure ring at the bottom is suspended from the hoop inside the bracket arms. A manually operable ball ejection mechanism including an axially vertical slidable rod is carried by the pole. The rod is spring loaded and extends through the ring for ejecting the ball after retraction to compress the spring.

United States Patent f [45] Patented Aug.31,1971

[541 CIRCULAR COURT BASKETBALL GAME WlTl-l BALL EJECTOR 10 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs.

52 0.5. CI 273/1.s R, 273/95 R, 273/105 R 51 Int. Cl A63b 63/02 [50] Field of Search 273/15 R, 1.5 A

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 532,132 1/1895 Zaremba 273/1.5RUX

. 273/1.5 RUX 3/1940 Albach 273/15 R 2,278,616 4/1942 Kettering... 273/15 R 2,808,264 10/1957 Scalf 273/l.5 A 3,105,683 10/1963 Kimbrell.... 273/15 A 3,446,504 5/1969 Pascucci 273/15 A Primary Examiner- Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner Paul E. Shapiro Altomey Polachek & Saulsbury ABSTRACT: A basketball game is played on a circular court outlined by concentric circles. A pole is removably mounted in an upright position at the center of the court. On top of the pole is a horizontal hoop supported by removable bracket arms carried by the pole. A tapered net basket with a closure ring at the bottom is suspended from the hoop inside the bracket arms. A manually operable ball ejection mechanism including an axially vertical slidable rod is carried by the pole. The rod is spring loaded and extends through the ring for ejecting the ball after retraction to compress the spring.

PATENTEDAUBB] |97l 3,602 505 SHEET 2 [IF 2 INVENTOR. lm'ovf. FR/EAm CIRCULAR COURT BASKETBALL GAME WITH BALL EJECTOR This invenu'on concerns a basketball game played on a circular court.

Conventional basketball games employ a pair of fixed hoops mounted on elevated vertical backboards located at opposite ends of a rectangular playing court. A net basket is carried by each hoop. The ball in play falls through the hoop and basket.

The present invention concerns a basketball game which can be played on a smaller, circular playing field than conventional basketball. According to the invention a pole is set upright in the center of a circular playing court or field marked off in two concentric rings or circles. On top of the pole is a bracket supporting a horizontal hoop. Suspended from the hoop is a net basket with a ring at the bottom closing the basket so that a basketball cannot fall through the basket. The pole is provided with a spring-loaded plunger. The plunger can be manually operated to eject the ball from the basket after each scoring play which results when the ball is.

thrown through the hoop and is retained in the basket.

One object of the invention is to provide a portable basketball game which can be played by a smaller number of players, on a smaller playing field than conventional basketball.

Another object is to provide a pole ball game in which play can be faster and scoring more active and exciting than conventional basketball.

Another object is to provide a pole basketball game having a hoop and basket elevated on a pole'in the center of concentric rings so that a basketball can be thrown into the basket from any direction in a range of 360 all around the basket, in contrast with conventional basketball where players are limited to a scoring or playing range of approximately 180 at each of the two baskets.

Another object is to provide a pole basketball game played on a circular court without a backboard, by two or more players individually or in teams.

Another object is to provide a pole basketball game in which the ball entering a basket is retained therein until ejected by mechanism in the pole. Other objects are to provide a portable pole basketball game which is faster and more exciting to watch and to play than conventional basketball played with two fixed hoops at opposite ends of a rectangular court.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken together with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a pole basketball game including a pole and basket assembly according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are horizontal sectional views taken on lines 3-3 and 4-4 respectively of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a support arm for a hoop.

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on vertical line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 2, showing another pole and basket assembly.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are enlarged horizontal sectional views taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the base of the pole shown in FIG. 7.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-6, there is shown a pole and basket assembly 20 set up in the center of aplaying field or court 22. Marked on the field are two concentric circles or rings 24, 26. Located at the common center of the rings is an axially vertical post 30. The lower part of the post terminates in a conical tip 32 and adjacent coarse threaded section 34; see FIG. 6. This facilitates screwing the post into the ground.

An annular flange 36 is screwed on the threaded section 34. This flange bears on the ground and serves to keep the post in an upright, axially vertical stationary position. The post has a head 37 at its upper end screwed into threaded bore 39. The

head has three radial sockets 38 spaced equally 120 apart; see

FIG. 4. Engaged in the sockets are tenons 41 at lower ends of three curved arms 40. At upper ends of the arms are tenons 42 which are engaged in lugs 44 depending from a horizontal hoop 46; see FIGS. 4A, 5.

The assembly of post, arms and hoop can be quickly disassembled by sliding or snapping the arms out of sockets 38 and lugs 44 at opposite ends ReaSsembIy is performed by reengaging the arms in the sockets and lugs. Lugs 48, integral with hoop 46 have holes 49. A net 50 is formed by threading twine through the holes in the lugs and twisting at points 51. The bottom of the net is closed by a flat ring 52 having holes 54 through which the twine is threaded see FIG. 3. A tapered basket as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is thus disposed under the hoop. The basket is closed at least to the extent of preventing ball 60 from falling out of the basket once it passes through the hoop 46. I

In order to eject the ball 60 from the basket, there is provided a slidable plunger 55. This plunger is a rod bent at the top to form depending arm 56. The arm extends slidably through a bore 58 formed in head 37 at top of the post. The arm carries annular flange 62 slidably disposed in bore 39 in the top of the post. Axially compressible coil spring 64 is disposed inside of bore 39 under flange 62; see FIG. 2. Plunger 55 has a shaft 66 extending downwardly alongside the post and terminating in a handgrip 69 coiled around the post and slidably axially on the post. The bent end or bight of the plunger normally extends upwardly through hole 92 in the center of ring 52. The bight 90 is eccentrically disposed to deflect the ball laterally as it is ejected upwardly.

The assembly will be operated for ejecting the ball 60 after it isthrown into the basket by one of the players 100 during play of the game. A player will manually grasp handgrip 68 and pull it down until spring 64 is fully compressed while bight 90 is retracted down to head 37. The player will then suddenly release his grip on the plunger which will thrust the ball upwardly out of the basket as spring 64 expands. Play will then continue. Suggested rules for playing the game appear below.

FIGS. 7-11 show another assembly 20A which is generally similar to assembly 20 and corresponding parts are identically numbered. In assembly 20A, post 30a is hollow and made of lightweight metal such as aluminum rather than being solid plastic as in assembly 20. Heat 37a is secured in threaded bore 30 at the top of the post and carries hollow, radial arms 40a. Hoop 46a is mounted on top of the arms by mutual detachable engagement of tenons 42 with lugs 44. The tenons 41 at the lower ends of the arms are engaged in radial sockets 38. Net 50a is made of twine but the several courses 51 are not twisted as in net 50. The courses 51 extend in straight lines between lugs 48 and holes 49. Since the diameter of hoop 46a is greater than that of ring 52a the net tapers radially inwardly between the hoop and ring 52a.

Shaft 66a of plunger 55a extends axially in central passage 31 in the post. The shaft is movable axially through a hole in a disk 95 set in passage 31. Spring 64 bears on disk 95. The upper end of the shaft extends through bore 58 in head 35a and terminates in a bent finger 90a at the top of the shaft. Finger 90a normally extends through hole 92 in ring 52a as clearly shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The bent finger deflects the ball 60 laterally as it is thrust upwardly out of the net and through the hoop.

A handgrip 68a in the form of a sleeve is axially slidable on the post. This sleeve has diametrically opposed longitudinal slots 96 in which are engaged radial fingers 98 formed at opposite sides of a disk 100. The disk is axially slidable in passage 31 as best shown in FIG. 9. Fingers 98 extend slidably through slots 101 in post 30a. The lower end of shaft 66a is threaded and screwed into a threaded hole 102 in disk 100. A flange 106 on the shaft bears on top of the disk. By the arrangement described, the handgrip can be grasped and with it the plunger 55a can be pulled down while compressing spring 64 and retracting finger 900. When the handgrip 68a is released the plunger will spring up to thrust the ball out of basket 50a.

The bottom end of post 30a is provided with a threaded bolt 108 anchored in the post. This bolt can be removably screwed into threaded recess or socket 110 formed in pedestal 112. The pedestal has a baseplate 114 which can be secured to the ground of the playing field by bolts 116.

For playing the game the following are suggested dimensions and specifications. The overall height of the pole 30 or 300 should be about 7%feet. The hoop 46 or 46a will be about 12%inches in diameter. The arms 40 or 400 will be about inches long. The net 50 or 50a will be about 12%inches in diameter at the top and about 6 inches in diameter at the bottom. Plunger 55 or 55a will be about 2 feet long. The ball will be about 8 inches in diameter, and may be made of rubber or plastic. Outer circle 24 on field 22 will be about 12 feet in diameter and inner circle will be about 9 feet in diameter. The pole is mounted at the center of the concentric circles.

Following are two ways in which the game can be played.

GAME l.-lNDlVIDUAL PLAYERS The players line up and each player takes a ball 60 inturn. The first player takes one step from the base of the pole and tosses the ball at the hoop 46 or 46a. If the ball enters the hoop and remains in the basket, the player scores a letter S. The player then withdraws to the end of the line, whether he scores or not, and the next player tries to score. After the first score is made at one step fom the post, the player steps back two steps from the post the next time his turn to play comes, and tires to score again. If he succeeds he scores a letter W" so his score is now S-W. If the player is successful he tosses at three steps from the pole the next time his turn comes to play. Each time he is successful he scores another letter until he completes a score of SW-lS-H. The first player to complete the five-letter score word SW-lSl-l" wins the game.

GAME NO. 2.-TEAM PLAY Two teams are chosen, with one to five players on each team. To start the game a coin is tossed to determine which first gets control of the ball. A selected member of this team takes the ball to a point outside of the larger circle 24 where plays starts. The player then must pass the ball to a teammate who may shoot at the hoop from anywhere outside the inner circle 26 or pass the ball to a teammate. Any one of the opposing players tries to block any shots and tries to get control of the ball. The ball can be thrown or passed in or out of the inner circle 26 but cannot be shot into the hoop from a position inside the inner circle. A ball tossed from such a position inside circle 26 is declared a foul and the opposing team gets the ball. A player of the team which receives the ball takes it outside the outer circle 24 and play starts as before. When a shot is made into the hoop a player of the nonscoring team operates the plunger to eject the ball from the basket and puts it back in play. Only in starting a game and in case of a foul is the ball taken outside of the outer circle 24 for play. Any shot made into the hoop from outside the outer circle 24 counts as five points. Any shot made from outside the inner circle but inside the outer circle, counts as three points. The team which first scores a total of 50 points wins the game.

it will be apparent that other playing and scoring rules can be devised at the option of the players, depending on their support means carried by the pole and supporting the hoop above the top of the po e; a tapered net basket suspended from the hoop within said support means; a ring secured to and closing the bottom of the basket to prevent a ball entering through the hoop from falling through the net; and a ball ejection mechanism carried by the pole and operable through the ring to eject the ball upwardly through the hoop and out of the basket.

2. A basketball game as defined in claim 1, wherein said support means are arms detachably engaged with said hoop and said pole.

3. A basketball game as defined in claim 1, wherein said ejection mechanism comprises an axially vertical coil spring disposed in a bore inside the pole; an axially movable rod engaged with said spring for compressing the spring, said rod having a portion extending through said ring and retractable therefrom when the spring is compressed; and means operatively engaged with said rod for retracting the same axially of the pole to compress the spring, whereby the rod is thrust upwardly by said spring when the rod is released for ejecting the ball up out of the basket through the hoop.

4. A basketball game as defined in claim 3, wherein said pole is hollow and the rod is disposed inside the pole, said rod having a bent upper end to deflect the ball laterally as it is ejected upwardly out of the net and through the hoop.

5. A basketball game as defined in claim 4, wherein the lastnamed means comprises a sleeve slidably disposed outside the pole to serve as a handgrip for retracting the rod.

6. A basketball game as defined in claim 3, wherein the rod is disposed outside the pole and has a bent upper end defining a curved bight and short arm. Said arm carrying a flange engaging the spring, said curved bight extending eccentrically through the ring for deflecting the ball laterally as it is ejected upwardly out of the net and through the hoop.

7. A basketball game as defined in claim 6, wherein the lastnamed means is a coiled handgrip integral with the rod and slidably encircling the pole.

8. A basketball game as defined in claim 1, wherein the net is made of twine with courses engaged between the ring and hoop.

9. A basketball game as defined in claim 1, wherein said pole has a bore at its upper end; said support means comprising a head engaged in said bore, and arms detachably engaged at opposite ends with said head and said hoop in circumferentially spaced positions said ball ejection mechanism comprising an axially vertical coil spring disposed in said bore inside the pole; an axially movable rod engaged with said spring for compressing the spring, said rod having a portion extending through said ring and retractable therefrom when the spring is compressed; and means operatively engaged with said rod for retracting the same axially of the pole to compress the spring, whereby the rod is thrust upwardly by saidspring when the rod is released for ejecting the ball up out of the basket through the hoop.

10. A basketball game as defied in claim 1, further comprising means at the bottom end of the pole for mounting the pole in axially vertical position at the center of a circular court, with means for quickly demounting the pole. 

1. A basketball game comprising a pole mountable in an upright position at the center of a court; a horizontal hoop; support means carried by the pole and supporting the hoop above the top of the pole; a tapered net basket suspended from the hoop within said support means; a ring secured to and closing the bottom of the basket to prevent a ball entering through the hoop from falling through the net; and a ball ejection mechanism carried by the pole and operable through the ring to eject the ball upwardly through the hoop and out of the basket.
 2. A basketball game as defined in claim 1, wherein said support means are arms detachably engaged with said hoop and said pole.
 3. A basketball game as defined in claim 1, wherein said ejection mechanism comprises an axially vertical coil spring disposed in a bore inside the pole; an axially movable rod engaged with said spring for compressing the spring, said rod having a portion extending through said ring and retractable therefrom when the spring is compressed; and means operatively engaged with said rod for retracting the same axially of the pole to compress the spring, whereby the rod is thrust upwardly by said spring when the rod is released for ejecting the ball up out of the basket through the hoop.
 4. A basketball game as defined in claim 3, wherein said pole is hollow and the rod is disposed inside the pole, said rod having a bent upper end to deflect the ball laterally as it is ejected upwardly out of the net and through the hoop.
 5. A basketball game as defined in claim 4, wherein the last-named means comprises a sleeve slidably disposed outside the pole to serve as a handgrip for retracting the rod.
 6. A basketball game as defined in claim 3, wherein the rod is disposed outside the pole and has a bent upper end defining a curved bight and short arm. Said arm carrying a flange engaging the spring, said curved bight extending eccentrically through the ring for deflecting the ball laterally as it is ejected upwardly out of the net and through the hoop.
 7. A basketball game as defined in claim 6, wherein the last-named means is a coiled handgrip integral with the rod and slidably encircling the pole.
 8. A basketball gaMe as defined in claim 1, wherein the net is made of twine with courses engaged between the ring and hoop.
 9. A basketball game as defined in claim 1, wherein said pole has a bore at its upper end; said support means comprising a head engaged in said bore, and arms detachably engaged at opposite ends with said head and said hoop in circumferentially spaced positions said ball ejection mechanism comprising an axially vertical coil spring disposed in said bore inside the pole; an axially movable rod engaged with said spring for compressing the spring, said rod having a portion extending through said ring and retractable therefrom when the spring is compressed; and means operatively engaged with said rod for retracting the same axially of the pole to compress the spring, whereby the rod is thrust upwardly by said spring when the rod is released for ejecting the ball up out of the basket through the hoop.
 10. A basketball game as defied in claim 1, further comprising means at the bottom end of the pole for mounting the pole in axially vertical position at the center of a circular court, with means for quickly demounting the pole. 